by CJ Andrews
She hesitated a moment, then a slow smile stretched across her face. “You know what? I’d love that. Thank you.”
Ignoring Kristi’s cautious expression, I gathered my things to leave.
Kendra waved. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning, ten-ish. We’ll hit the gym first, work on that aggression issue of yours.” She gave her usual wicked laugh. “And don’t bother getting ready before I get there. I’ll bring an outfit for you to wear.”
“Sounds perfect. But I’ll wait till we get to The Next Level to put it on.” No point getting Will upset again about me wearing such a tight outfit around other men. The idea of looking good at the gym appealed to me this time around, which should probably worry me.
Having someone to talk to during dinner was nice, even though it was challenging to keep the conversation alive at times. Alexia was very shy, as I’d suspected—aside from that odd moment at Oasis. We talked about work, adjusting to the office, and her father’s hopes that he could pass his company on to her when he decided to retire.
By the time we finished eating, it was after eight thirty.
I drank the last of my tea and stood. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m just gonna take a quick minute to clean up.”
Alexia roamed through the family room while I worked in the kitchen, clearing our dinner plates and takeout boxes from the breakfast bar that separated the two rooms.
“You have such a beautiful home. I can’t wait till all this is mine. Well not this”—she made a sweeping gesture with her hand—“but you know, like this. A home, a family.” She dragged her hand along the edge of the long table behind the couch, studying the collection of framed family photos. “I missed out on a lot, growing up so far away from my father. It was always just Mom and me.”
Peter had told me some of his family history, how Alexia’s mom had moved to the Midwest with their daughter to intentionally put a great deal of distance between them. Too far for Peter to commute, so he had to choose: family or work. That was back when he was struggling to build his PR business. He figured she’d come to her senses and move back home, but the emotional distance between them soon surpassed the physical. He’d often told me that losing his family was the greatest cost, and biggest mistake, of his career.
She gave a wistful sigh and picked up one of the photos, commenting as she brushed her fingers across the glass. Her soft-spoken words were difficult to hear—something about being a great dad.
“What’s that?” I said, moving to stand beside her.
“Hmm? Oh, this picture.” She angled it to show me the photo in her hand. “Your son is adorable. And you can easily see the love in your husband’s eyes. He must be a great dad.”
I touched the frame with one hand, the other sliding to my stomach on instinct as a wave of nausea hit. “That’s my husband with our nephew, Caden.”
The photo of them playing on the beach last summer was one of my favorites. The warm memory of that day filled the emptiness inside me.
“Will adores him.” I turned to her, trying to force a smile. “He would have been a great dad, but we weren’t able to have children.” My voice faded. “We tried for years.”
Alexia placed a hand on my arm, the compassionate look on her face urging me to go on.
I took a deep breath and continued, not understanding why I felt so compelled to tell her something I normally didn’t share. “Will said we needed to pick a time to give up, that it wasn’t healthy to constantly stress over something that maybe wasn’t meant to be.” I shrugged. “He picked my fortieth birthday, which was a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, Danielle. That’s so sad. I just can’t imagine it.” Still holding the frame, she pulled me in for a hug. “Deep down, every man wants to be a daddy. At least that’s the way I see it. And I’m sure you always dreamed about being a mommy too.”
The door from the garage opened. Will dropped his keys on the table, tossed his jacket over one of the chairs, and deposited his shoes next to it—his usual routine. When he turned toward the family room, his step faltered. His eyes grew wide.
“What—” He swallowed hard. “Sorry, babe, I didn’t realize you had company.”
I introduced Alexia, emphasizing that she was my boss’s daughter.
“Oh, that’s right. Peter mentioned she’d be working with you. I didn’t realize you two were—why is she here again?” He drew the words out, sounding confused as he looked between the two of us.
“Her dinner plans got cancelled, so I invited her to join me. That way neither of us had to eat alone.”
Will didn’t respond.
“I was actually about to leave. Danielle was just showing me some of your family photos first.” She held up the picture then placed it back on the table. Biting her lip, she gave Will a shy glance. “Sorry for intruding. You were probably looking forward to a little quality time with your wife.”
I shot Will a menacing glare, feeling bad for Alexia. She seemed so uncomfortable.
He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a slow breath. “You don’t have to leave.”
“Oh, I know. But I need to get home, make sure I’m well rested. I have plans for a busy day tomorrow.” She smiled sweetly and gave me another long hug. “And so do you. Have fun with your friends.”
I walked Alexia to the door, suddenly eager to get rid of her. When I came back inside, Will emerged from the kitchen, carrying a bottle of Becks.
He crossed the room, wrapped me in his arms, and placed a kiss on my forehead. “I don’t think I was very polite to your new friend.”
“You got that right,” I said with a chuckle, settling into his embrace. “She seemed fine when she left though. No harm done . . . as long as Mr. Jamison doesn’t call over the weekend to tell me I’m fired.”
His body shook with a brief laugh. “I need to relax. You wanna keep me company? Watch a movie?” He kissed my temple. “I’ll even let you put on one of those sappy chick flicks, and you can tell me about your evening with the girls.”
We curled up together on the couch. True to form, Will was sound asleep and snoring less than five minutes into the movie. Long before I had a chance to tell him about my day or my plans for tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Trapped in the Middle
Kendra’s car fishtailed as she turned into the parking lot at Farley’s Pub. Snow had been falling for about an hour. While the roads remained clear, a light coating covered everything else. We slid into the space next to Kristi’s car.
It had been a long time since I'd spent a day with the girls. Too long. I let out a contented hum. “We need to do this more often.”
Kendra laughed. “Sweetie, you’re the one who can never come out to play. I’m in. You just tell me when and where.”
Kendra and I had hit the gym early this morning and managed to escape without running into Nico. I was relieved, especially after I caught myself looking for him several times. We had, however, crossed paths with Trina, his perky little gym groupie.
Kendra noticed her pretending to stretch while blatantly eavesdropping on our plans for the day. “If you don’t start minding your own damn business, I’m going to come over there and show you another use for that mat.”
Trina ignored Kendra. She greeted me with a devious smile then strutted away—boobs pushed out and hips swaying—without saying a single word.
After the gym, Kendra and I had grabbed an early lunch at Pepper's then met up with Kristi at Serenity Spa.
Next stop was Sasha's Closet, where I’d found the perfect little dress for my Valentine’s date with Will—red, to match the ruby jewelry he’d be surprising me with. And, of course, sexy new lingerie would be hiding underneath that dress.
The three of us climbed out of our cars and hurried toward the entrance, eager to escape the frigid February weather.
“Hear anything from Will yet?” Kristi said through chattering teeth.
“Nope. I’ll have to try again.” I’d called him from Sasha’s
and left a message. Then I'd texted him two times on the ride here. “I’m beginning to think he’s ignoring me to get out of coming.”
It had taken a lot of pleading this morning before Will agreed to meet us for dinner. He and Kendra had never gotten along very well—tolerated each other, at best—but lately, the animosity between them had reached a whole new level.
A rush of warm air greeted us when we stepped inside the cozy, rustic pub. It was almost as amazing as the smell of Farley’s gourmet burgers.
Black iron lights hung from the wood-beamed ceiling, casting an amber glow throughout the space. Large tables that looked like slices of giant tree trunks dotted the room, most unoccupied. But it was still early, not even five thirty.
Flames flickered in the stone fireplace along the back wall. A man sat on a stool next to it, tuning an acoustic guitar, preparing to entertain the dinner crowd.
My phone finally chimed with a response from Will. On my way. Order some wings for me and one of those burgers with the spicy cheese sauce.
Placing his order in advance was his rude way of reducing the amount of time he’d have to spend with Kendra. I shoved my phone back in my pocket. Probably should just be happy he’s coming at all.
The host led us to our table. I trailed behind my friends, letting my eyes and thoughts wander. My gaze drifted to a small table in the corner, as if lured by a flashing sign, and settled on the dark-haired man seated there. His head whirled in my direction, and there was no mistaking the moment his eyes found me. The familiar spark only Nico created sent a surge of energy through me, the magnetic connection of our souls.
“Oh, shit.” I stumbled into Kendra and grabbed her arm. “We can’t stay here. I—damn. I gotta go.”
“Christ, Danni.” She pried my fingers loose. “What the hell is your prob—oh, shit.” Kendra stopped walking and held up her hands in surrender, her wide-eyed gaze bouncing between Nico and me. “I didn’t know. I swear, I had nothing to do with this.”
“Hey, you guys coming?” Kristi draped her jacket over the back of her chair, settled in, and began tapping away on her phone.
Kendra grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward our table, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Nico. Or his date. The trashy little blond practically climbed into his lap, leaning past him to cast a possessive glare in my direction. Trina.
I closed my eyes and took a calming breath. Let it go, Danni. Just friends, remember?
Trina squeezed Nico’s cheeks between her neon-pink talons and dragged his attention back to her, rewarding him with an overzealous kiss. My unexpected outrage at their display faded when he pushed her away to look back at me, but the bliss of my small victory didn’t last.
Will is on his way. The reminder played on a continual loop, tightening its grip on my sanity with each repetition. I could hide my feelings from Will when Nico wasn’t around, but how on earth would I be able to do that with both of them in the same room? I had to find a way, or all the progress I’d made toward resuscitating our relationship would be destroyed.
Kristi lowered her phone when we joined her. “I can’t believe this is the first weekend all year I’m not out with Ben. I really miss him.” She let out a wistful sigh. “But at least we can enjoy ourselves today . . . unlike yesterday.” She gave an exaggerated shudder.
“Anyway, I’m so excited Will’s coming. Probably not as much as you are though. Right? I mean, I can’t remember the last time you two were out together . . . well, other than New Year’s Eve.” She sighed again, shoulders slumping forward. “That’s when Ben and I met. I really, really miss him.”
“It’s only one night. I think you’ll survive.” I laughed, rubbing Kristi’s back.
“And think about how much fun you’ll have catching up.” Kendra gave a suggestive wink.
The waitress arrived to take our orders, but Kendra jumped from her seat with a giddy shriek and bolted past me.
“Jeeze, Kristi, I think you’re rubbing off on her.” I turned around just as Kendra threw herself into Logan’s outstretched arms.
“You told me you weren’t coming down this weekend.” She squeezed him then planted a lush kiss on his mouth.
“Last minute change of plans.” Logan’s face lit up with a genuine smile. “I wanted to surprise you, but you never answered my text to let me know your plans for tonight.” He gave Kristi and me a quick nod.
“Damn. I forgot to take my phone off silent when we left the spa. It all worked out anyway. You found me, and you sure as hell surprised me.” Kendra grabbed his hands, dragging him toward the other side of our table. “You’re planning to join us, right?”
Logan’s steps slowed. His expression dropped. “I didn’t know you’d be here. I’m—” He looked at me. “I’m meeting Nico.”
His unasked question hung in the air. I took a deep breath, thinking about the reaction I’d had to Nico a few minutes earlier. Inviting him to join our group was an insane idea, out of the question.
I looked at Kendra, ready to apologize for spoiling her fun, but I burst into laughter instead. The sight of Kendra with her hands folded beneath her chin, silently begging me to say yes, was priceless. And probably a first. I rolled my eyes at her and nodded.
Kendra practically knocked me from my chair with her enthusiastic hug. “Thanks, sweetie. You’re the best.” She eased back and grabbed my shoulders. “You can do this.”
I didn’t have her confidence, but I’d make the best of it. The table was large, and there were four other people in our group—five once Will arrived. As long as Nico sat far enough away from—
“Hello, beautiful.” Nico’s warm breath caressed the side of my neck as he leaned down to greet me, placing his mug of beer on the table. He grabbed a chair from the empty table behind us and wedged it close to mine as he sat.
Trina tagged along and slumped into the seat next to his, looking less than thrilled with the change in plans.
“Nico, my friend. Glad you could join us.” I inched my seat away from his. “Need to make sure we save room for my husband. He’ll be joining us in a few minutes.”
Nico tipped his head side to side, appearing to wage an internal debate. I expected him to make a comment about Will’s history of leaving me sitting, but that was probably just my insecurities running wild.
“Hey, buddy. Everything good over there?” Logan called from the other end of the table. A concerned expression marred his face as he studied Nico.
Nico didn’t respond at first—didn’t even seem to register the interruption.
I looked at Logan and shrugged.
“Yeah.” Nico chugged down half of his drink then rolled his head from side to side. “Yeah, I’m good.” He wrapped his hand over Trina’s on top of the table and leaned his shoulder against her, his eyes on me the whole time.
The waitress returned with our drinks. After a quick check to see if we needed anything else, she moved on to another table.
“So. Quite a coincidence running into you again,” I said. “It’s becoming a bit of a habit.”
Nico smiled. “Not a bad one. But this was actually Trina’s idea tonight. She cornered me at my gym earlier and . . . persuaded me to bring her.”
“Hmm . . . imagine that.” I leaned across Nico, pretending to check out the drink specials, and glowered at Trina.
Nico tapped my arm. “I’m glad that she did.”
She scowled and snuggled in closer to her date, wiggling her half-exposed boobs under his nose. “Nico, baby. I’m chilly. Can you keep me warm?”
He slipped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder in a brisk manner. “Of course. You want me to grab your sweater from the car?”
“Gee, Trina,” Kendra imitated her whiney, sweet voice, “I bet you could go sit by the fire to warm up. I’m sure Nico baby wouldn’t mind.”
“Be nice.” Nico gave Kendra an impatient glance and pulled Trina closer.
I turned my back to the two of them before I lost my appetite. Waving my hand in fro
nt of Kristi, I tried to draw her attention away from her phone. She’d been glued to that thing since we got here, texting nonstop with Ben.
Kendra and Logan returned to their private conversation, whispering and touching each other. He draped one arm across her back and stroked the side of her neck, his lips pressed to her ear. Kendra’s face lit up with a mischievous grin. She bit her lip.
Logan chuckled then slid back his chair. He stood and turned toward me with a playful wink.
“What?” Kendra swatted at him, laughing. She wagged a finger. “I thought you were kidding. You better sit your sexy ass back down.”
“Excuse me, ladies. I’ll be right back.” He leaned down to place a kiss on Kendra’s temple, then he was gone. His laughter faded into the conversations around us as he walked toward the restrooms.
Kristi’s mouth hung open. She stretched her arms across the table, phone still clutched in one fist, and leaned toward Kendra. “Oh. My. God. Are you supposed to follow him?”
Kendra shook her head. “Nah, he’s just teasing.” She scrunched her face, pausing, then waved her hands. “At least I think he is . . . either way, I’m not going. My days of restroom hookups are behind me.”
“Yeah? Since when?” I laughed and ducked to avoid the napkin ball she tossed at me. “So, Kristi, what were you saying earlier about being able to relax and enjoy ourselves tonight?” I crossed my eyes and tipped my head, trying to point in Nico’s direction.
She glanced at her phone before placing it on the table. “Well, I just meant that it would be more relaxing without having to worry about your new pal going all psycho on someone. You’re the only one she’s nice to, you know. Probably because she’s worried you’ll tell Daddy what a total bitch she really is. I mean, you should have heard—”
“You talking about Alexia Jamison?”
Nico’s interruption startled me. Shouldn’t he be wrapped around his chilly little bimbo and minding his own business?